Frogless switch



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

O. W. JONES.

. FROGLESS $WITGH. No. 411.991.

Patented Oct. 1, 1889.

N. PETERS. Fvmunha n mr, Wnhing'mg D. C

I 3 SheetS Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

0. W. JONES.

PROGLESS SWITCH.

Patented Oct. 1, 1889.

:4. PETERS. mmg w, wzmwm nc (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. W. JONES.

FROGLESS SWITCH.

No. 411,991; Patented Oct. 1, 1889.

its" efficiency in all respects, also by certain ties between the mainrails and at an angle UNITED STATES PATENT CHARLES \V. JONES, OFJUNCTION, VIRGINIA.

FROG LESS SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,991, dated October1, 1889. 7 Application filed June 6, 1889. Serial No. 313,331. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES XV. JONES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Junetion, in the county of Hanover and State of Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Switches;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompany ing drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements upon the automatic switchfor which Letters Patent No. 394,118 were granted to me on the 4th dayof December, 1888, the object of the present invention being to simplifythe construction and operation of the switch therein shown by reducingthe number of parts, at the same time retaining changes in theconstruction, adding greatly to its durability; and the inventionconsists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed, illustrated in the drawings, and specifically pointed out inthe claims.

Figure l is a plan view of the switch complete. Fig. 2 is an end view ofthe shifting rail. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is aplan of the shifting-rail support and a part of one of the main rails onan enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a crosssection on the line as as of Fig. 1.Fig. 6 is an inner side view of the frog-rail. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectionon the line y 3 Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the shifting rail andmain rail, the switch being open to the main line.

In the several figures, A A represent the ties upon which both the mainline and siding are supported.

B B are the rails of the main line, C C the rails of the siding, and Daguard-rail placed adjacent to and within the inner rail of the sidingto act as a support to the movable frog-rail E and prevent derailmentshould any slight inisadjustment of the same occur. An intermediate railF is also secured to the thereto equal to the divergence of the sidingfrom the main line. At one end of this intermediate rail is pivoted theshifting rail WV. The other end rests upon blocks of cast-iron, whichgradually increase in thickness as it approaches the main track, so thatthe top of the intermediate rail F is raised at this end about two and aquarter inches above the top of the main track. The block 0 under theend of the intermediate rail F continues in the direction of the innerrail of the side track and rises flush with the top of the main rail.This block has a projection c, which extends under the main track, thetie being cut away deep enough to allow its passage, part of it forminga seat for an end of the guard D. On the other part of it is formed theprojection c, having its upper surface level, so that where it abuts themain rail it is flush with the same. In the top of this castiron blockand parallel to the inner side of the main rail, which rests upon it, isformed the groove d, for'the flange of the car-wheel to pass throughwhen running upon the main track.

The connection between the intermediate rail F and the inner side railis made by the frog-rail E. This rail rests, when open'to the sidetrack, upon a cast-iron block H, secured to the ties. The block H hasits upper sun face flush with the top of the main rail, against which itabuts, and has flush with it the bean ings or projections it, upon whichthe switch rail moves when thrown out of connection with the siding. Thefrog-rail has a side projection. H upon its outer side, through which itis pivoted to the cast-iron block upon which it rests, and is made of abar of iron rectangular in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 7 Beneath theend of the inner side rail to which the frog-rail is joined thecast-iron blocks L are placed to give it a slight elevation. A rod Nconnects the frog-rail with the crank M on one end of the crank-shaft R.This shaft is fastened to the ties by the cast-iron boxes P, spiked tothe ties. The other end of the crank-shaft is conn ccted with theswitch-rails W by the rods W. The leverT operates the crankshaft to openor close the siding, as desired, in the manner ordinarily used. When thelever is thrown. in the direction to open the main track to the sidetrack, the switchrails are in the position shown in Fig. 1 and thefrog-rail is moved upon the supports and forms a continuous rail withthe inner rail of the side track and the intermediate rail, passin gover the inner one of the main-track rails, thus avoiding the use of arigid frog or breaking the continuity of the main track. A small spaceis left between the pivoted end of the frog-rail and the rail of theside track, which it adjoins, to allow a free movement of saidfrog-rail. If by accident the main track is left open to the siding andthe wheel of an engine coming in the opposite direction from that whichit should to run upon the siding,

its tread striking the side of the frog-rail would force the rail backand thus avoid derailing the train.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, the following:

1. As an improvement in railroad-switches, the block H, forming asupport for the frog rail, in combination with said frog-rail pivoted tothe plate on the outer side of the said rail, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

2. As an improvement in railroad-switches,

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature 35 in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES w. JONES.-

\Vitnesses:

G. BURROUGI-IS, -F. H. SoHoT'r.

